Suicide by Suggestion, or Summary Execution?

Portland Indymedia - Anon. - William C. (Bill) Rodgers, aged 40, of Prescott, Arizona, was found dead in a jail cell in Flagstaff early on December 22nd. The Coconino County sheriff's office and medical examiner said that he had committed suicide by placing a plastic bag over his head while he was in his one-person cell.

http://portland.indymedia.org

Suicide by Suggestion, or Summary Execution?
Accused "Eco-terrorist" Dead in Custody

Eco-Defense Arrestee Bill Rodgers
Found Dead in Cell in Arizona
author: anon

Portland Indymedia
December 22, 2005

SHERIFF SAYS THAT BILL RODGERS KILLED HIMSELF IN CELL

Bill Rodgers was one of six people arrested this month in connection with eco-defense actions in Oregon and Washington in recent years. He was charged in the firebombing of a government wildlife lab outside Olympia, Wash. In an affidavit that was filed in federal court last week, an FBI agent said that Rodgers attended a meeting of Earth Liberation Front members in western Colorado where the arson of a Vail, Colorado ski resort was planned.

Community members are mourning the passing of a tireless activist who had worked for social justice and environmental responsibility. He was a co-founder of the Catalyst Infoshop and Bookstore. One of his loved ones said about the case, "We need to show Prescott and the U.S. that we are not ashamed of who Bill—or The Catalyst—is, but proud of how they have served to bring people together."

I got this off indybay and there's more info in google news, just search for bill rodgers.



DemocracyNow!

Jailed Environmental Activist Bill Rodgers Dead of Apparent Suicide
In other news, Bill Rodgers, an Arizona environmentalist and bookstore owner has died in his prison cell just two weeks after his arrest. Rodgers was one of six activists picked up by the FBI on December 7. They were all accused of setting a series of arsons in the Pacific Northwest that had been linked to the Earth Liberation Front. Prison officials are calling Rodger's death a suicide. A medical examiner say Rodgers died of asphyxiation after he placed a plastic bag over his head. Rodgers was 40 years old. He was best known in Prescott, Arizona for running the Catalyst infoshop.

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Google Search:

single feature archives : AZ IMC
On Thursday, December 8th, the Catalyst Infoshop was searched by FBI agents and
Bill Rodgers was arrested. He is currently being held in Flagstaff, ...
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media: Friends of Catalyst support Bill : AZ IMC
7 arrests of Rogers and other suspects including a Flagstaff woman – Sarah ...
“Bill displays a pretty high moral character in terms of his willingness to ...
arizona.indymedia.org/news/2005/12/33953.php - 25k - Cached - Similar pages
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Phoenix Anarchist Coalition :: Your radical community for the ...
Agents detained Bill Rogers, one of the Catalyst's founders, who is expected to
be arraigned in Flagstaff at 10:00 am Thursday at the federal building, ...
www.phoenixanarchist.org/ - 101k - 21 Dec 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Arraignment Update from Flagstaff :: Phoenix Anarchist Coalition ...
8 - Sarah Harvey and Bill Rogers were arraigned this morning after their arrest
... Arraignment Update from Flagstaff | Login/Create an account | 0 Comments ...
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The Catalyst Infoshop - Prescott, Arizona
Agents detained Bill Rogers, of the Catalyst's founders, who is expected to be
arraigned in Flagstaff at 10:00 am Thursday at the federal building, ...
catalystinfoshop.org/ - 9k - 21 Dec 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Infoshop News - Arizona: Arraignment Update from Flagstaff
8 - Sarah Harvey and Bill Rogers were arraigned this morning after their arrest
yesterday as ... He is being held in Flagstaff until a hearing on the 16th, ...
www.infoshop.org/inews/ article.php?story=20051208143839766 - 36k - 22 Dec 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Infoshop News - Arizona: FBI raids The Catalyst Infoshop
Arraignment Update from Flagstaff by matewan Thursday December 08, 2005 at 12:07
PM An update from the arraignment hearings of Sarah Harvey and Bill Rogers ...
www.infoshop.org/inews/article. php?story=2005arizonainfoshopraid - 39k - 22 Dec 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

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Wildcats to ANWR

PEJ New - C. L. Cook - Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the controversial oil exploration provision, in the form of a rider attached to a massive 453 billion dollar defence appropriations bill for the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

www.pej.org

Wildcats to ANWR

http://www.althippo.com/images/anwr.jpg

Senate to Vote on Drilling in Wildlife Refuge
C. L. Cook

PEJ News
December 20, 2005

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin released a statement on the U.S. House of Representative's decision to honour a 1987 agreement with Canada to protect Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), the essential habitat of the Porcupine Caribou, the last of North America's great migrating herds and sustenance for the Gwich'in peoples of Yukon and Alaska:

"I am very encouraged that the House of Representatives yesterday decided to drop the Arctic Refuge drilling provision from their budget bill. This is an important step forward in the protection of the Refuge, the Gwich'in people and the Porcupine Caribou Herd. I am proud of the persistent efforts of Environment Minister Stéphane Dion, environmentalists David Suzuki and Elizabeth May and so many others."

"However, a number of hurdles still remain and Canada cannot relax until the final votes are cast. We will continue to work with our U.S. allies to ensure the Refuge and the Porcupine Caribou Herd remain protected."

That was in November, and barely a month later, Martin's caution has proven prophetic. Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the controversial oil exploration provision, in the form of a rider attached to a massive 453 billion dollar defence appropriations bill for the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Canadian reactions was swift; a spokesperson for Canadian Ambassador, Frank McKenna said Canada is: "active on this." He hopes to find support in the U.S. Senate in a final effort to kill the bill. The defence appropriations bill sailed through the House of Representatives 308-106, though previous attempts to push it through have all been shot down.

Republican Representative Mark Kennedy, who says he's consistently opposed the move explained his pro-vote, saying: "[I]t would be the height of irresponsibility to vote against a bill that funds our troops and our military while our nation is at war."

A spokesperson for Alaskan Senator Ted Steven, chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee who had vowed to make drilling in the ANWR, his long-time hobby horse, a reality before Christmas, dismissed Canadian objections, saying: "He understands and appreciates Canada's concern but believes there are enough environmental precautions."

The ANWR consists of a 600,000-hectare refuge. Proponents of drilling say the estimated oil reserves would help make America less dependent on imported oil.



Chris Cook is a contributing editor to PEJ News. He also hosts Gorilla Radio, a weekly public affairs program, broad/webcast from the University of Victoria, Canada. You can check out the GR Blog here.

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The Crisis of Democracia!

http://www.segundoenfoque.com.ar

/otro_evo_morales.jpg

PEJ News - C. L. Cook - Already faced with Castro and Chavez, the landslide electoral victory of Evo Morales in Bolivia signals a new front for the Bush administration's War on Democracy in Latin America.

www.PEJ.org

The Crisis of Democracia!
C. L. Cook

PEJ News
December 22, 2005

The Associated Press (AP) reports today, Bolivia's newly minted President-elect, Evo Morales promises he will nationalize his country's oil and gas sector, promising he will render null and void contracts with foreign companies he accuses of "looting" the nation's wealth.

The former coca farmer, and first indigenous leader of Bolivia also vows to strike down laws criminalizing the cultivation of the plant known best as the source of cocaine. Neither measure reassuring to Washington's plan for the Andean region.

Committing to a program of nationalization of natural resources, Morales says he won't expel foreign corporations, or confiscate refineries, but instead will renegotiate deals as a "partner" in the development of those resources, while retaining full ownership for Bolivia.

Speaking in the capital, La Paz, the apparent president-elect explained his position, saying: "Many of these contracts signed by various governments are illegal and unconstitutional. It is not possible that our natural resources continue to be looted, exploited illegally, and as the lawyers say, these contracts are legally void and must be adjusted."

This is being seen as a stunning reversal of fortune for the Bush administration and its friends in the oil business; Bolivia's reserves are believed second only to Venezuela, and the prospect of a second Hugo Chavez is not sitting well Washington. In 2002, the U.S. threatened to cut off 90 million dollars in aid transfers to the country should Morales win the election.

The Bush administration has also accused Chavez of "interfering" with the political process in Bolivia.

Morales has already expressed an interest in forming an alliance with Venezuela and join its president's efforts to redefine the role of multinational oil corporations in their respective countries.

Preliminary election results give Morales more than 54 percent of the vote, with less than eight percent of the general vote to be tallied. He needs only 50 percent plus one to be acclaimed without the imprimatur of the congress.

Morales' first step on what he hopes to be the road to full state control the country's oil and gas was to demand Brazilian oil giant, Petrobras return two refineries purchased from Bolivia's state-owned oil company in 1999. It's a move that will challenge the nominally left-wing "populist" Brazilian president, Luiz "Lula" da Silva.

While keeping the details of his program vague, Morales has said, contracts with companies found to have secretly exported oil and gas, avoiding state royalties, will be voided outright. Energy multinationals currently invested in Bolivia include: Petrobras, Spain's Repsol, Total SA of France, and British Gas, and BP PL:C.

Should the results prove true, Morales will be sworn into office January 22, 2006. And should he be true to his word, other multinationals who feasted on Bolivia in an orgy of privatization following International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) implemented in the 1990's, could too find their holdings less secure.



Chris Cook is a contributing editor to PEJ News and host of the weekly public affairs program, Gorilla Radio, broad/webcast from the University of Victoria, Canada. You can check out the GR Blog here.

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Gorilla Radio for Monday, December 19th

Gorilla Radio for Monday, December 19th

PEJ News - C. L. Cook - This week: Vancouver-based author, John Vaillant and The Golden Spruce, a tale of myth, madness, and greed in B.C.'s woods.

And, Sheldon Rampton of the Center for Media and Democracy and the PR spinning of the benefits of toxic sludge and other damn lies.

And, Janine Bandcroft bringing us up to speed with all the good things to do in and around Victoria in the coming week.


Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Monday, 5-6pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, 104.3 cable, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.uvic.ca He also serves as a contributing editor at the progressive web news site: http://www.pej.org.

You can check out the GR blog at: http://GorillaRadioBlog.blogspot.com

Can good come from an evil act done with right intent? Means and ends: A question at heart of so much human misery paving, as the saying goes: “…the road to hell with good intentions.”


http://www.cbc.ca/arts/images/pics/goldenspruce2.jpg


In 1997, Grant Hadwin, a timber scout and outdoorsman disappeared in British Columbia’s rugged coastal north. Hadwin’s life had recently taken a turn; after years of working in logging, he had come to despise the wanton destruction of his beloved wild, becoming an environmental advocate and blistering critic of the industry.

His final days and his ultimate fate is an enduring mystery and frontier legend. John Vaillant is a Vancouver-based writer who has written for, among other publications, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and National Geographic Adventure. His first book, The Golden Spruce chronicles the strange tale of Grant Hadwin.

John Vaillant in the first half.

And; whether you call it “perception management,” “spin,” “PR,” or just “flackery,” it amounts to the same thing: You are being fed B.S. designed to protect someone from public outrage.

http://www.prwatch.org/images/tsigfy.gif

The Public Relations industry has grown to massive proportions; thanks in no small part to the rampant corruption and general perfidy ruling both politics and business today.

Sheldon Rampton is a journalist and author whose titles, co-authored with John Stauber, include: Toxic Sludge is Good for You! Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry, Mad Cow U.S.A., Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush’s War on Iraq, and his latest, Banana Republic: How the Right Wing is Turning America into a One-Party State. He’s also the Research Director for the Center for Media & Democracy, where he produces its “encyclopaedia of propaganda” Disinfopedia.

Sheldon Rampton and the damnable lies of the PR industry in the second half.

And; Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with all that’s good to do in and around Victoria this week. But first, John Vaillant and The Golden Spruce: a true tale of myth, madness, and greed.

G-Radio is dedicated to social justice, the environment, community, and providing a forum for people and issues not covered in the mainstream media.

Some past guests include: M. Junaid Alam, Joel Bakan, Maude Barlow, David Barsamian, William Blum, Luciana Bohne, Vincent Bugliosi, Helen Caldicott, Noam Chomsky, Michel Chossudovsky, Diane Christian, Juan Cole, David Cromwell, Jon Elmer, Reese Erlich, Anthony Fenton, Jim Fetzer, Laura Flanders, Chris Floyd, Susan George, Stan Goff, Robert Greenwald, Denis Halliday, Chris Hedges, Sander Hicks, Julia Butterfly Hill, Robert Jensen, Dahr Jamail, Diana Johnstone, Kathy Kelly, Naomi Klein, Anthony Lappe, Frances Moore Lappe, Dave Lindorff, Jim Lobe, Jennifer Loewenstein, Wayne Madsen, Stephen Marshall, Linda McQuaig, George Monbiot, Loretta Napoleoni, John Nichols, Kurt Nimmo, Greg Palast, Michael Parenti, William Rivers Pitt, Sheldon Rampton, Paul Craig Roberts, Paul de Rooij, John Ross, Danny Schechter, Vandana Shiva, Norman Solomon, Starhawk, Grant Wakefield, Paul Watson, Bernard Weiner, Mickey Z., Dave Zirin, and many others.

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